Faculty, Staff & Students Honors & Awards

Desh Pal Verma, Molecular Genetics, Elected Fellow of Third World Academy of Sciences

The Third World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) elected Desh Pal S. Verma, molecular genetics professor, a Fellow of their Society at their last general meeting in Beijing in October. TWAS, an organization based in Italy, represents the best of science in the developing world. Its principal aim is to promote scientific capacity and excellence for sustainable development in the South. Verma's pioneering work on symbiotic nitrogen fixation began by isolation of the first plant gene (encoding leghemoglobin) followed by the identification of a group of plant genes, termed nodulins, that allow the host to develop symbiotic interaction with a nitrogen-fixing bacteria. This led him to identify two important genes, one encoding nodule-specific uricase (nodulin-35) and the other, nodulin-26, which was later characterized (by others) to be a plant aquaporin (water channel). Aquaporins were the subject of Nobel prize research this year. Verma's recent work on the biotechnology of stress tolerance in plants led him to isolate a gene encoding a bifunctional enzyme (P5C synthetase) involved in the synthesis of proline; over-expression of this gene gives plants the ability to accumulate more proline rendering them drought-and salinity-stress tolerant. This work is likely to have a significant impact on world agriculture and was recognized as such by TWAS. The P5CS gene has been patented by OSU and was licensed for commercial development. Verma continues to take part in international scientific activities affecting developing countries. His current research focuses on signal transduction linking nutrition and stress to ribosome biogenesis (protein synthesis) in plants. Among many discoveries, Verma has identified a group of novel proteins (Phragmoplastins), involved in cell plate formation in plants that allowed him to figure out how the cell plate is built during cytokinesis in plant cells. This fundamental observation then led to the identification of callose synthase, an enzyme that not only helps to build the cell plate but is also responsible for laying down callose at different locations during plant development, including in response to pathogen infections.

To be eligible to be a TWAS Fellow, one has to be a member of their own National Academy of Sciences. Verma, a Canadian citizen, is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and a Member of the National Academy of Sciences Canada (elected 1986) and was a Steacie Fellow of the National Research Council of Canada (1981-82).

David L. Denlinger Awarded Top Honor by the Entomological Society of America

David L. Denlinger, Professor and Chair of the Entomology Department, is the winner of the 2003 Entomological Society of America (ESA) Recognition Award in Insect Physiology, Biochemistry and Toxicology; sponsored by Bayer CropScience. This prestigious award, given by one of the country's largest professional scientific societies, recognizes outstanding contributions to the areas of insect physiology, biochemistry, toxicology and molecular biology. Denlinger, who was a recipient of the University's Distinguished Scholar Award in 1996, studies the physiological mechanisms that coordinate insect development and reproduction. Denlinger was the first to discover that insects have hormones and has done groundbreaking research on insect diapause and cold tolerance. One of his important, long-term major projects is work on the reproductive processes of the fly that carries sleeping sickness, the African tsetse. Denlinger is both a renowned researcher and respected mentor of students at all levels--undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral fellows. His laboratory continues to produce both leading-edge research and outstanding young scientists. Denlinger will receive his award at the ESA Annual Meeting on Sunday, October 26, 2003.

Floyd Receives Professional Society's Highest Award

Gary L. Floyd, former dean of the College of Biological Sciences and professor emeritus, plant biology, received his professional society's highest honor, the 2003 Phycological Society of America's Award of Excellence, June 18, 2003. This prestigious award is given only to select individuals who have demonstrated sustained scholarly contributions in, and impact on, all fields of research/teaching on algae over their professional career. Floyd's nomination and support letters were provided by prominent scholars working in diverse fields of phycology, all of whom were former graduate students or postdoctoral researcher's in Floyd's lab. Floyd, who served as dean of the College of Biological Sciences from 1990 - 97, is one of the few people to have won both of Ohio State's most prestigious faculty awards: the Alumni Award for Distinguished Teaching and the University's Distinguished Scholar Award.

Snow Elected to Lead Professional Society

Professor Allison Snow, evolution, ecology and organismal biology, is the new president-elect for the Botanical Society of America; a national professional society for plant biologists, which has more than 3,000 members and publishes the American Journal of Botany. Election to this top office is a three-year commitment; Snow will serve as president-elect, July 2003 - June 2004, president, July 2004 - June 2005 and past-president, July 2005 - June 2006.

2003 Outstanding Graduate Award Recipients

Congratulations to the following graduating seniors, who were honored at the 5th Annual Graduation Lunch, June 12, sponsored by the College of Biological Sciences and the Biological Sciences Alumni Society:

Anahita Adeli, Molecular Genetics; Research with Dr. de la Chapelle, Medicine; Service Chair for HELIX; Historian for AED--premed honor society

Jeremy Daniel Carpenter, Biochemistry major, International Studies minor; graduating with Honors & with distinction--in 3 years; Research on plant genetic mechanisms, Erich Grotewold, Plant Biology, advisor; 2nd place award in CBS 2002 College Colloquium; presented at Denman Undergrad Research Forum

Sarah Clark, EEOB, graduating with distinction; Research with Tom Waite, EEOB, examining consequences of adopting different energy conservation strategies on US greenhouse gas emissions

Melissa Ann Cousins, Zoology; Research on insect sensory perception, Brian Smith & KC Daly, Entomology, advisors; second place 2002 CBS College Colloquium, tied for 1st place in Biological Sciences, Denman Undergrad Research Forum

Emily King Deschler, Molecular Genetics; graduating with Honors & with distinction; Research on mutations linked with Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia in Boxer dogs, Vet Med, Kate Meurs, advisor

Jennifer Anne Drum, Biology major, minors in Physics & History; graduating with Honors; Study abroad, Luxembourgh; Phi Beta Kappa, Mortar Board, President's Salute to Undergrad Achivement; TBDBITL; College rep, ASC Honors Committee

John Krikor Guluzian, Biology; graduating with Honors; 2003 ASC Award for Excellence in Scholarship, National member, AED--premed honor society, 2000-01 AED Outstanding Member Award, National Society of Collegiate Scholars

Ian Keith Hawkins, Double major: Zoology & Entomology

Daniel James Kaser, Double major: Microbiology & Comparative Studies; graduating with Honors & with distinction; Research on adrenal nicotinic receptors, Dennis McKay, Pharmacy; advisor; poster presented 2002 CBS Colloquium (1st place award); 2001 & 2002 Denman Undergrad Research Forums; published one paper with second in preparation; SECOND research project with Linda Harlow, advisor, French; on bioethical implications of the human genome project; Outstanding Junior Award; Undergrad Research Scholarship from: College of Pharmacy, Fellowship from American Society for Pharmacology; Phi Beta Kappa

Brian Howard Kvitko, Microbiology; graduating with distinction; Research on microorganisms in Antarctica and on transformation systems for archaebacteria, John Reeve, advisor; presented poster 2002 CBS Colloquium & Denman Forum; American Society for Microbiology summer research fellowship

Ludmila Katherine Martin, Biology; Women's tennis team; research in EEOB

Christie Lynn McGee, Double major: Biochemistry & Spanish, minor: Psychology; graduating with Honors; Canaga Biochemistry Fellowship (2000), Aristobulo Pardo Award for Undergrad Achievement, Spanish Dept.; CBS Curriculum Committee; student rep, ASC Senate

Jennifer Lynne Meisel, Biology; graduating with Honors; earned enough college credit while in high school to graduate in two years!

Vincent Ng, Biology; graduating with Honors; Academic All-American; 4-time Academic All-Big Ten, Socrates Award finalist, several national awards for sportsmanship & leadership; 2003 Big Ten Singles champion; Big Ten conference medal for most outstanding athletic performance & scholarship at OSU; holds OSU record for career singles wins

Amy Elizabeth Petz, Biology major, minor: Natural Resources; graduating with Honors; Study abroad, Costa Rica; interned at Ohio EPA, Summer 2002 & at USEPA Spring Qtr. 2003, through the John Glenn Institute

Allison Reid, EEOB; Study abroad in Costa Rica, Research on several projects, including the conservation biology of Henslow's sparrow, African cichlids, Lisle Gibbs, EEOB, advisor

Jamie Elizabeth Thomas, Microbiology; graduating with Honors; Helix, co-chaired Bio Sci Day recruiting activities

Justin Nelson Uhl, Molecular Genetics; graduating with Honors; Men's Glee Club; Dean's Scholarship for Case Western Reserve University Medical School

George Wang, Molecular Genetics; graduating with Honors & with distinction in MG; NSF Graduate Research Fellowship & Stanford Graduate Fellowship; Genetic analysis in the plant Arabidopsis thaliana, Erich Grotewold, Plant Biology, advisor; presented poster at 2002 CBS Colloquium & Denman Forum; Men's Glee Club

Congratulations, again to all and to an outstanding CBS graduating class, Spring 2003--whose overall GPA was 3.32!

Faculty Promotion & Tenure

Congratulations to the following Biological Sciences faculty members whose outstanding accomplishments have resulted in their tenure and promotion:

Tenured and promoted to Associate Professor:

• Mark Foster, Biochemistry
• Venkat Gopalan, Biochemistry
• Paul Herman, Molecular Genetics
• Tom Waite; Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology
• Iris Meier, Plant Biology

Tenured:

• Roman Lanno, Entomology

Promoted to Professor:

• Amanda Simcox, Molecular Genetics

These faculty members were honored at a reception hosted by Dean Joan M. Herbers on June 11 in the new Stanley J. Aronoff Laboratory of Biological Sciences.

Vince Ng Named Regional IV Senior Player of the Year and Regional Arthur Ashe, Jr. Recipient

Vince Ng (Sr., Broadview Heights, Ohio) was named the 2003 Men's Tennis Midwest Regional IV ITA/Farnsworth Senior Player of the Year and the 2003 regional recipient of the Tennis Magazine/Arthur Ashe, Jr. Sportsmanship and Leadership Award. As a recipient of these awards, Ng automatically is a candidate for the National Senior Player of the Year and National Sportsmanship titles. Ng also is a nominee for the 2003 National ITA Osuna Sportsmanship Award.

Ng, currently ranked No. 38 in the country, was named the 2003 Big Ten Player of the Year and was an All-Big Ten selection. He earned honors for men's tennis Big Ten Player of the Week, April 22.

Ng holds the career singles record at Ohio State with a 132-44 mark in four years as a Buckeye. Roger Smith (1983-86) held the 17-year record since 1986 with 126 wins. Ng broke the record after claiming his 127th victory against Wisconsin, April 11 in Madison.

Currently, Ng holds a 41-6 singles record on the 2002-03 season. The 41 season singles wins places him at the No. 2 spot in program history and is a career high. Smith holds the record at Ohio State with 45 season singles wins set in 1986.

Ng was undefeated (10-0) in singles action against 2003 Big Ten opponents. He is on a 12-match winning streak, which extends back to a victory over Michigan State's Cameron Marshall, March 15 in East Lansing, Mich.

As a biology major, Ng holds a 3.93 GPA and will graduate with honors from Ohio State in spring 2003. Ng has been enrolled in the University's Early Admission Pathway program for the past three years and was accepted to medical school at OSU as a high school senior. He plans to attend medical school at Ohio State beginning in late August 2003.

In Spring 2002 Eric Juterbock, Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology, was awarded an Alumni Award for Distinguished Teaching. Juterbock is a specialist in the evolutionary biology of tetrapod vertebrates, and combines continuing field biology activities with a substantial teaching load. An Ohio State faculty member since 1980, he has taught numerous zoology and biology courses, as well as classes focusing on resource management and American environmentalism. He has won the campus teaching award twice, and shared it once. He also has a strong record of service at Ohio State Lima. Juterbock holds doctoral and master's degrees in zoology from Ohio State, and a bachelor's degree in biological sciences from Cornell University.

At the second annual Faculty Recognition Day, during halftime at the football game on November 2, Juterbock, along with Ohio State's other outstanding faculty, was recognized for his achievements.

In Spring 2002 Allison Snow, Evoultion, Ecology and Organismal Biology, was awarded a Distinguished Scholar Award. A member of the Ohio State faculty since 1988, Snow is widely recognized for her research on pollination ecology and the effects of transgenes in nature, the study of which has implications for increasing crop yields internationally. She is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the Aldo Leopold Leadership Program, and has served on advisory panels of the National Academy of Sciences, the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. She received her Ph.D. and MS, both in botany, from the University of Massachusetts, and her BA in biology from Hampshire College.

At the second annual Faculty Recognition Day, during halftime at the football game on November 2, Snow, along with Ohio State's other outstanding faculty, was recognized for her achievements.